Extending Square Dies to Cut Rectangles

This is a useful tutorial on how to get more out of your Square Dies by extending them to cut rectangles.

With this method, you can extend the length or the width, but not both!

At the end of the project, you will find a downloadable PDF of these instructions.

You will need some:
Square dies (eg Tonic Layering Squares)
Die cutting machine (eg Grand Calibur)
Cardstock









Step 1
Measure the outer edge of your square die.  In my example (excuse the slight blurriness of the first photo), my outer edge measures 9.8cm and I know that this cuts a 9.3x9.3cm square.  I know need to cut a piece of card that's length is exactly 9.8cm+the extra length I want to acheive. So if I want a rectangle that is 2cm longer ie 11.3cmx9.3cm, I need to cut a piece of card that is exactly 9.8cm+2cm = 11.8cm.  The width doesn't matter as long as it is a bit wider than the die.

Step 2
Butt the edge of the die to the bottom edge of your piece of card and tape into place.  Place this on the cutting plate so that the other end of the die comes off the end of mat (below left). Cut and then emboss this piece (below middle).  You will now have a piece of card cut along thrtee sides (below right).

Step 3
Remove the card from the die, and re-allign the die flush to the opposite end of the cardstock. Manoeuvre  the die so that the cut edges slot into place (this can be a little fiddly but you will feel it when it gets seated correctly, and I find it helps if you trim off the outer flaps).  Tape into place, making sure the it is now the end that has already been die cut that is off the edge of the cutting mat.  Cut and emboss again.

You should now have a perfectly die cut and embossed rectangle.

You can download a pdf of these instructions here.

Please do let me know if you have found this helpful, I love to read your feedback.


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Framed Lattice Card

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Tonic Studios Dies but often I like to make a bigger card especially if it's a "special" birthday, and the Tonic Dies can at first appear too small. However, you just need a little creative thinking in your crafting .....

Card Recipe:

Tools: Tonic Studios Indulgence Boudior Square Base Die, Square Layering Dies, Scallop Circle Layering Dies, Every Day Sentiments 1 Dies, Verdant Vines Dies, Delicate Lattice Ovals Die Set, Grand Calibur
Paper and Card: Stardream Card
Embellishments: Flatback pearls and crystals, handmade hat pins, double satin ribbon
You can watch a youtube video I've filmed on how to make this card here:

I created the main focal point by cutting the Boudoir Base (without the outside cutting edge) straight into the aqua stardream card stock.  Then I cut a frame from white card and a matching scallop circle mat, to frame the lattice and to create a mat for the sentiment.












The "flower" is made from the smallest die from my Delicate Lattice Ovals Die set - sometimes you wonder what to do with these smaller dies but the symetrical design of this little die makes is perfect to layer up to create a filigree flower.

Finally, I had to add a couple of handmade hatpins, don't forget to check out my two tutorials on Creating Hatpins and the aptly named follow-up, More Decorative Hatpins for a simple guide to creating your own embellishments.

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1 Today Baby Girl Birthday Card

I've been waiting ages to show you this 'Lucia 1 Today' card, so I do hope you think it was worth the wait!

Card Recipe:
Image: Joanna Sheen House Mouse Triple CD
Paper and Card: Textured, DCWV, Stardream
Tools: Tonic Studios Happy Birthday Sentiment Die Set, Layering Squares, Love Arches Punch, Fanciful Flourish Die Set, Grand Calibur, Silhouette Cameo 
Embellishments: lace, seam binding, lace heart, pearls and crystals

I made this card for my parents to give to their first (and only) granddaughter on her first birthday, so it had to be special!

The focal point is this lovely sweet House Mouse digi image from Joanna Sheen''s House Mouse Triple CD.  I die cut with my favourite layering squares dies and mounted it onto a fancy square from the Happy Birthday Sentiment die set on DCWV luxury cardstock.









I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the 'Lucia 1 Today'  motif and  highlighted the 1 with flatback pearls.  The pretty lace heart is from the Tilly Daydream collection.

I'm generally of the view that more is more, I do like fussy and fancy cards, so some of the extra detailing on this card include:
* a cyrstal embellished florish swirl die-cut
* a seam binding bow
* handmade decorative hat-pins
* a lace border, layered with a cardstock border punched out using the Love Arches punch.


If you would like to have a go at making your own decorative hat-pins, I have a tutorial here that is a great starting point. 

I used the Happy Birthday frame as a mount for the message inside the card.




















Here's one final look at this card.

I do really love hat-pins, lace and House Mouse - what about you? Pin It Now!

Clean & Simple CAS Tiara Corners Card

I've said it before, I don't really "do" clean and simple, but I had this idea in my head for creating a card by layering up Tiara Corner Die Cuts, and it was an itch that needed scratching!

Card Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Verso Tiara Corner Die, Layering Scallop Circle Dies, Layering Circle and Square Dies, Grand Calibur 
Paper and Card: Stardream Card
Embellishments: Rhinestone Button 

I created the focal point by cutting 4 die cuts from white pearlescent card using the larger die in the Tonic Studios Tiara Corner die set.  I then cut 2 mats using the layering square dies, and cut aperatures with the layering circle dies.

I had to limit myself to just adding the one bit of bling, I still get twitchy fingers when I "finish" a clean and simple card, I do find hard not to add just a bit more!

Hope you like it!

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Card in a Box Step-by-Step Tutorial

This Step-by-Step Tutorial shows you how to make a larger card-in-a-box, from 2 sheets of A4 cardstock.  This card base folds flat to 20x22cm.
Card-in-a-Box Recipe:
Paper and Card:  2 x A4Stardream,  3 or 7 9.5x9.5cm card panels, 3 9.5cmx11.5cm card panels, 1 9.5cmx21.5 cm card panel, 4 or 7 9x9cm paper panels, 3 9x11cm paper panels
Tools: Tonic Studios Layering Square Dies, Tonic Studios Supertrimmer, Grand Calibur 

Using your Super Trimmer set with the score blade, score the A4 sheet along its length at 10cm and 20cm.  Then rotate the sheet a quarter turn, and socre the width at 10cm.  Repeat for the other sheet of card.  Burnish the score lines with a bone folder.  
Swap the blade in the Super Trimmer to the cutting blade and trim the A4 sheet to 22cm, making sure that the 10cm score side is at the top (see below right).  Don't throw away the little strip, we'll be using this!  Repeat on the other sheet.

Card in a Box Step-by-Step Tutorial Step 1

Card in a Box Step-by-Step Tutorial Step 2

Next, carefully cut through the 10cm long score lines as shown left.  Repeat with the other sheet.






Take one of the scored offcuts and trim down the 12cm to 1.5cm.  This will leave you with a score line at 1cm, then a 10cm space, then a score line with 1.5cm left.

Turn this a quarter turn and trim the panel into 3 strips, each about 2.5cm wide.

Trim the tabs as shown below.

Card in a Box Step-by-Step Tutorial Step 3

If this is your first time making a box, you may want to initially adhere your panels below with removable adhesive until you are certain that the are all in the right place before sticking them down permanently.

Card in a Box Step-by-Step Tutorial Step 4

First of all, stick the two big panels togther by glueing along one of the long tabs and sticking together.  The side with the tab showing will become the inside (wrong) sides of the box.

Now, I prefer to add my decorative panels to the box before fully assembling it, as I find it easier to get the panels centralised by doing it this way.  However, if you are using a decorative paper that has a right way up, you do need to keep a very careful eye on making sure your patterns are the way they need to be on the finished article (this will make more sense when I show you)!
Flipping the card base over so that the outside (right) side of the box is facing you, and the shorter 10cm panels are at the top.  Working from left to right, adhere a 9.5x11.5cm panel to the bottom longer panel. Next adhere a 9.5x21.cm panel (don't worry that this will cover the central score line) to the nextquater, and finish by adhering the final 9.5x11.5 cm panels in place (see left).
If you are decorating all the panels including the front underside, then flip the card base over again, and working now with the top section, adhere the 4 9.5x9.5cm panels.

Card in a Box Step-by-Step Tutorial Step 5

Flip the card base over again and adhere the last 3 9.5cmx9.5cm panels.

You are now ready to add decorative patterned paper.  Flip the card base over again, and locate the panel that is backed by the longer piece of card.  In my picture (middle left) this is the panel 3rd from left.  This will be the panel that is the top back of the box when it's put together.  I have added a 9x9cm panel with the decorative paper the right way up to this as I look at it in the picture. The remaining panels need to be adhered "upside-down" as these are the panels that hang down when the box is assembled.

Next I flip the card base over again.  The longer 9x11cm pieces are adhered the right way up, whilst the smaller 9x9cm panels are adhered upside down (see bottom left).

Leave to dry for 15-20mins. Then glue along the final long tab, and fold box in half and attach the tab to form the box.






Finally, fold and score the 3 little tabs into an elongated 'z' shape (see left)







Apply glue to the outside edges of the tabs, and carefully insert onto the box, taking care to align the top of the tab with the top of the box.

You can use as many or as few tabs as you like as these will act as the "bridges" to hold whatever you want popping out of your box.  




You can see I've used 3 and that they are evenly spaced out.

Leave you box to dry fully.  Once dry, you can add your decorations.  Your card will fold down flat to post, as you can see on my earlier 7oth Birthday Card in a Box here.

You can also download a PDF of these instructions here.

Thank you for visiting my blog today, before you leave, I would love to share with you news of a new blog I've started, DipsDelectus.  It's about fun things other than craft (if that's possible!) like beauty and travel.  If this interests you too, then please pop over for a looksie, www.DipsDelectus.com Pin It Now!

Card in a Box using Tonic Fae Fairy Butterfly Purse Corner Dies

The new Verso Butterfly Purse Corner Dies are just perfect for making a Card in a Box, especially when combined with the enchanting new Fairy Semis Dies from Tonic Studios. So I couldn't think of anything more special or appropriate to use when making a very special 70th Birthday card for my lovely Aunt Ann.



















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Sew-Nice Mice!

These cute little Mices were just "sew" nice, that I couldn't resist them, especially when paired with my Mannequin die set! 

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Crafter's Companion
Colouring Mediums: Memento Rich Cocoa Ink Pad, Promarkers, Distress Ink Pads (Antique Linen and Pumice Stone)
Paper and Card: Stardream, My Mind's Eye, Neenah
Tools: Tonic Studios Layering Squares and Scallop Layering Squares Die Sets, MannequinTag Die, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: Lace, Double Satin Ribbons, Spool Button, Lace Doily, recycled MOP Button, Metallic Thread, flat-back pearls, hand-made Pearl Hatpins
My main image is Sewn with Love Makey Bakey Mice from Crafter's Companion, stamped onto Neenah card, and cut out with the oh-so-useful Tonic Layering Square dies using the off-the-edge technique so that the upper-most mouse and the top of the stamped mannequin poke off the top of the die cut edge. I coloured the image with Promarkers, paper-pieced the mannequin body with an off-cut of my patterned paper and then ink-dusted the edge of the image with a combination of Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Inks.

Those mices do look industrious in their activities!


I echoed the patterned paper piecing technique on my Mannequin Die Cut (one of my favourite dies of all time), and embellished the neckline with flat-back pearls.  

My mats and layers are some lovely My Minds Eye papers that I've had in my stash for quite a while, all cut with the new Tonic Studios Layering and Scallop Layering Squares Die Sets.

I colour-matched my double satin ribbon by colouring two different widths with Promarker Pens, before weaving the narrow length through the top edge of a piece of lace.  I do love this effect, it's a bit of fiddle to do but worth the effort.


It's always great when you have the right embellishments already in your stash to accent your card, such as this lace doily which I topped with a MOP button recycled off an old shirt.  

I've had the wooden thread spool button in my button box for about 10 years, and I wrapped some coordinating metallic thread around.  I always make my own hatpins (I have a tutorial on making decorative hatpins here) and am happy when my card lends itself to using them as an embellishment.

This card was a Top Pick in the following challenge (Thank You!):
Crafting for all Seasons - For the Girls

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Bevelled Squares & Scallop Circles - No Stamp Required

This card is a bit of departure for me, as there is no stamping required, just some lovely patterned paper and pretty embellishments combined with simple matting and layering.

Card Recipe:

Paper and Card: Textured, Watch The Birdie, Stardream
Tools: Tonic Studios Scallop Layering Circles, Layering Squares, Everyday Sentiments, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: flat-back pearls,  zva crystal swirl, hatpins, mulberry flowers, double satin ribbon, pearl strand, crochet flower

I'd had this idea for a mosaic-style card as soon as I got my new layering dies, but instead of creating a set of mats and putting different toppers onto them, I used my dies to create a set of identical mini apertures and used different elements from some gorgeous Watch the Birdie double sided patterned papers to create the focal points.

So here's a couple of close up photos of a few of those apertures.  Here you can see where I've used just a snippet of a Zva Crystal Swirl and then echoed that with a trail of flat-back pearls leading to my Butterfly die-cut.  

I make my own hatpins (it's kind of an obsessions) and if you would like to have a go at simple ones like this but don't know where to  start, take a look at one of my most popular tutorials Creating Hatpins.  The great thing about making your own embellishments is that you can always match them to your project.










Here's my tip for making sure that your apertures are all identical, use low tack tape to secure the two dies together, and keep in place for each of the nine squares.

You don't need to die cut the backing papers to each aperture, but as I had space on my die cutting mat, I did use the next die down to cut my papers.  The advantage to this is that can position the die and centre it over the most interesting elements of the patterns.  The beautiful images on Tonic Studios Watch the Birdie double-sided card pad was perfect for this project.  

Here's one final look at this card...

This card was a Top Pick in the Simply Create Too - Anything Goes  challenge, thank you! Pin It Now!

Sneak Peek - Tonic's New Layering Dies & Verso Hearts

Normally it's no peeking at this time of year - but I'm making an exception for these fabulous new Tonic Studios Dies! Would you like a sneak peek too? 

Card Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Indulgence Affections Square Base, Heart Base & Mother's Day, Square and Scalloped Square Layering Die Sets, Grand Calibur
Decoupage: Kanban
Paper and Card: HOTP, feltmark card, mirri card
Embellishments: satin ribbon, jingle bell, rhinestone crystals, pom poms

Goodness, there's so much to show, I don't know where to start - but let's start with the new Indulgence Affections Dies.  No doubt these have been developed with next February in mind, but as soon as I saw them, I thought the effect of a laser cut filigree heart would work perfectly on my Christmas Card for my brother and his wife.

So I used all 3 dies in the Indulgence Affections Heart Base set and teamed it with the inner heart from the Mother's Day set but just the outer cutting edge of the base heart.  On this picture you can also see the brand new Tonic Studios Layering Die Sets. Available in both square and circle shapes and with a bevelled or scalloped egde, each die set contains 14 nesting dies ranging from 2.3cm to 14cm in size.  I used the bevelled square to cut out my decoupage base layer and mounted it onto the equivalent die in the scalloped edge set to give the narrowest of mats.  Obviously, I could have chosen the next size up for a larger mat but I didn't want to obscure any more of my heart die cut.  If you've previously struggled with matting and layering, you will want these fabulous dies.  And, as a really thoughtful added extra, them come ready mounted onto a magnetic sheet and with their own file folder pocket sleeve.......now I wonder what that might fit into??????

I'm not sure what is the official name for the card base I made, so I'm just going to show you a picture and describe how I made it!  I die cut 2 of the largest mats from the Indulgence Affections Square Base set, and scored 1 exactly in half and folded it so that it was a tent-shape.  Then I stuck the other square to the front half of the tent.  I used a patterned paper cut with the Scalloped Layering Square dies as they fit perfectly into the middle.   
Isn't this a pretty decorative edge for a card?

This gave me the perfect strong base to add my main focal decoupage and filigree heart, but with them both coming off the edge of the card base in a more freestanding style.






Here's one last look at this card

Don't forget, if you haven't already done so, you can enter into my 100th Blogpost Celebratory Prize Draw for the chance to win some great Tonic Studios Prizes -details here. 

I love to know who's visited my blog, so why not leave a comment and tell me what you think of this card, it would be much appreciated!

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